Synonyms
Choose the word that most closely matches another word's meaning.
Synonyms are the first vocabulary skill that asks a child to think about meaning relationships rather than single definitions: big and large, then the shades between big, huge and enormous. Simple synonym pairs are Grade 1 and 2; Grades 3 to 6 move to nuance, connotation and academic vocabulary. The common error is treating any related word as a synonym (big / tall, happy / laugh) and, later, ignoring register (kid / child / offspring). Sorting words by intensity and replacing a word in a sentence to see if it still works are the two drills that build the judgement. These worksheets match, sort and substitute; the Word Synonyms game gives multiple-choice practice graded by age band.
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Games that practise it
Teacher FAQ
At what grade are synonyms taught?
Simple pairs (big/large) in Grade 1 and 2; shades of meaning and academic synonyms from Grade 3 to 6.
What is the difference between a synonym and a related word?
A synonym can replace the word in a sentence and keep the meaning. Big and tall are related but not synonyms — a big dog is not a tall dog.
How do you teach shades of meaning?
Line words up by intensity — warm, hot, scorching — and ask where a new word fits. Sorting is more effective than definitions.